'One More Day' meaning

Subject: 'One More Day' meaning
From: Abby Sale
Date: 27 May 00 - 06:15 PM

Towards the end of a version of "One More Day" in Hugill there's the verse:

Oh, heave and sight the anchor, Johnny,
For we're close aboard the port, Johnny.

any idea what that second line means?
 

Subject: RE: 'One More Day' meaning
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 27 May 00 - 07:22 PM

I am not familiar with this song, but it sounds like they've only one day (that's close in terms of sea voyages) to their intended port. Port here meaning seaport, not the left side of the ship as she sails.

Another reading, though, gives me a problem with the first line in that case. If they've got a day to go, they wouldn't be involved with handling the anchor yet.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: 'One More Day' meaning
From: Margo
Date: 28 May 00 - 12:28 AM

I seem to recall (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that the larboard side of the ship did come to be called the port side because that was the side that was always used for disembarking, loading or unloading while at the port. As to how that relates, I'm sorry I haven't a clue.
Clueless Margo

Subject: RE: 'One More Day' meaning
From: Night Owl
Date: 28 May 00 - 12:58 AM

to my simplistic mind it means......get ready to throw the anchor becuz....if you don't we'll crash on the port side of the ship. Curious to learn what it really means!!!!

Subject: RE: 'One More Day' meaning
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 28 May 00 - 02:25 AM

Abby, I suspect the word "aboard" may be a corruption of another word that makes more sense, giving the line the meaning that "we're nearing the port"; at the moment, though, I can't think of what that word or words might be. "Hard by", maybe?
And Margo, I believe you're correct. As I read somewhere (so it must be true), the word "starboard" was originally "steerboard" or "steering board", as some old boats were steered with a long oar, or board, that was fastened to the (right) side of the boat, instead of a movable rudder amidships. It would make sense, then, that you would tie up with the other side to the port, so as not to damage the steerboard. Then again, my sailing savvy is rather limited, and somebody like The Ancient Mariner may be laughing in his grog at all this. Eh, Dave?

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: 'One More Day' meaning
From: GUEST,Barnacle Bill
Date: 28 May 00 - 08:54 AM

"For we're close aboard the port" simply means we're nearly home.

Subject: RE: 'One More Day' meaning
From: Amos
Date: 28 May 00 - 05:16 PM

Anchors on old sailing vessels were stored hooked over the rail and lashed down, horizontally. Theyhad to be heaved over and checked visually for being ready to drop so that the anchor rode would run freely and not foul. I assume based on this that the first lines means to uncat the anchor and ready it for dropping, and the second means because we are approaching the destination port, where a large vessel would drop the hook and then unload by means of lighters (barges). This context gives sensible meaning to both lines.

Subject: RE: 'One More Day' meaning
From: Abby Sale
Date: 29 May 00 - 03:26 PM

Thanks All. I guess it's not a standard phrase then. My thought was 'barely a boards's length (gangplank) from the pier.' But I didn't like to equate pier & port.

Subject: RE: 'One More Day' meaning
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 30 May 00 - 07:09 PM

Hi Abby, been missing ya, hope it's no getting to warm for you. The heave & sight part (IMHO) would be to walk the casptan round till the mud hook broke free & you could actually sight it, when it got to be above the surface of the water & it's swinging it's got to be lashed to the cat's head quickly cause you're already underway & rockin & rolling ONE MORE DAY (just like the other day or kinda like the bear went over the mountain). The version you're quoting Abby is a quicker shorter version that doesn't use the full chorus. I've been doing a longer & (my opinion) slower version that I got from a woman (Susanne Friend) in San Francisco about 20 yrs ago.
Oh row me cross the river, I heard a maiden say
Oh row me to my lover, one more day
Chorus:
Only one more day my Johnny, one more day
Oh rock & row (or roll) me over, one more day.

Anyway Abby, I think the "close aboard the port" part may have been something other than what's shown, maybe something like "we're closer to home port" or maybe they're just catching the trades homeward & on a port tack close hauled to the wind & running at a good clip or maybe I got some shit in my ears & I can't hear worth a damn anymore & you should come up to Mystic again just to give me a good slap & say hello, it'd be nice to see you again. Barry

Subject: RE: 'One More Day' meaning
From: Abby Sale
Date: 30 May 00 - 08:48 PM

Good grief, yes, I should and will come up to Mystic again. This year, however, we're going to St. Thomas in July. I wonder if they do any singing there? I should probably write Roger Abrahams at Penn to see if there are any chantey contacts.

I learned a "One More Day" from the Boarding Party which seems very similar to yours. But this one phrase in Hugill intrigued me. I'm glad you answered here - I don't feel quite as stupid not getting a few simple words.

Subject: RE: 'One More Day' meaning
From: Abby Sale
Date: 30 May 00 - 08:50 PM

Good grief, yes, I should and will come up to Mystic again. This year, however, we're going to St. Thomas in July. I wonder if they do any singing there? I should probably write Roger Abrahams at Penn to see if there are any chantey contacts.

I learned a "One More Day" from the Boarding Party which seems very similar to yours. But this one phrase in Hugill intrigued me. I'm glad you answered here - I don't feel quite as stupid not getting a few simple words.

That "heave & sight" makes good sense.

Subject: RE: 'One More Day' meaning
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 31 May 00 - 08:03 PM

Hi Abby, hope you don't wait to long to come north. The version I do is the very same as the one done by Dick Holstock & Allen McLeod, they also got their's from Susanne. Good luck shanty hunting, pretty much all the fishing's done under power now & I doubt if they're chasing the Blackfish anymore. Have a good bath for yourself, see ya. Barry